Representation and the Judiciary

That this House is concerned at the gross under-representation of ethnic minority Judges at all levels of the Judicial system; laments the absence of adequate bullying, harassment and anti-discrimination policies and practices; notes the failure to address the bullying, harassment, whistle blowing and discrimination that have been the subject of employment tribunals in recent years; further notes the position of the Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor that the Executive has no responsibility for the health of all Judicial Office holders; questions the Government’s position that the actions of the senior judiciary in respect of disciplinary and grievance proceedings are covered by judicial immunity; welcomes the forthcoming establishment of a support network for Judges on 18 March 2021, United Nations anti-racism day, in order to support Judges who may be experiencing bullying, harassment or discrimination of any kind; calls upon the Lord Chief Justice and Secretary of State for Justice to endorse this support network, adopt specific annual targets for the appointment, retention and promotion of African, Caribbean, and Asian Judges and Magistrates; and further calls on the Government to investigate allegations that cases of sex, race and disability discrimination have been regularly dismissed by members of the senior Judiciary, Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, the Judicial Appointments Commission, and the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman.